As we begin to wrap up the first semester, it is important to take a moment and reflect on how far our students have come along this semester. The practice of gratitude has been linked to mental health benefits.

1. Gratitude unshackles us from toxic emotions

2. Gratitude helps even if you don’t share it

3. Gratitude’s benefits take time

4. Gratitude has lasting effects on the brain

Just a few missed days here and there, even if they’re excused absences, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your child behind in school. This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school.

• Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. It is harder to teach and it is harder to learn when too many students are absent.
• If missing school is unavoidable, talk to your children’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work.
• Give your child the gift of attendance and the habit of attendance.

November 30th is the 75th day of school. The celebration for Excellent attendance will be on Friday, December 1st. This will be the biggest celebration of the year. Students with excellent and improved attendance will receive a special snack and will be entered into a raffle for amazing prizes. Make sure you are maintaining your attendance so you can participate in the celebration.

Located in Oral Arts 2 before and after school

• English
• History
• Science
• Math

ASL Tutoring in B78 with Ms. Smith on Wednesdays and Fridays 3:30 PM- 4:30 PM

We continue to encourage students to complete all their work and prepare for upcoming finals. If students receive a D or F in English, Math or Biology this semester we will be scheduling them in summer school classes (6/6/24-7/4/24). We are also working on spring schedule changes. Students with multiple fails will be removed from their elective and placed in Seminar 9 (as space permits). Students who fail PE Swim will repeat it; if they pass it they will be placed in a different PE class for spring.

Spring semester is a fresh start to stay on track with all classwork and homework. Parents, please use Aeries and Google Classroom to monitor your student’s progress (grades and attendance). Make sure they are staying on task and meeting all deadlines. We offer free tutoring before and after school. Remember, the goal is for students to earn C’s or better. Any D’s and/or F’s in A-G classes will be repeated.

Ms. Rocha, Ms. Vasquez and Mrs. Riusech have been following up with students either for grades, or attendance concerns. We are excited by the number of students that have been invited to join SAS (School for Accelerated Studies) due to their A & B grades at the 12 week grading period. In addition, we are proud of how well our students are doing in AP classes that include AP Seminar, AP European History and AP Spanish Language, and AP Computer Science Principles. Overall, we are so proud of our 10th grade class and how they are leaning into their growth mindset. When they have obstacles and challenges academically they are making changes. We have several students making up classes they earned D's and F's in, so that they don't have to come to summer school. Keep moving forward 10th grade there is nothing you can't accomplish!

We encourage all students to use Thanksgiving break to catch up on all missing assignments. Remember, our goal is Cs or better in all classes so students can be A-G eligible to apply to 4-year universities. There is also tutoring available for all students before and after school in the Oral Arts 2 room if students would like extra support or a quiet place to complete homework. We encourage everyone to also attend school every day and be on time. Attendance is crucial in academic performance. In January, we will hold a mandatory meeting for all parents and students who are not on track for graduation. An invitation will be sent in early January.

There are a lot of important deadlines for Seniors this semester. Apart from college applications, we want to remind students to finish off strong academically. Senior year grades matter for college and graduation! We encourage students to keep up to date with assignments and to turn in things on time. A lot of teachers will not accept late work. Counselors are here to help support students and are available for walk-ins during lunch or by appointment.

College Applications: Seniors! Application season is here. With deadlines in November. Cal State, UC, and private college applications are now open and students can begin working on their applications online.

For UCs apply here: https://apply.universityofcalifornia.edu/

For Cal States apply here: https://www.calstate.edu/apply

For Common app go here: www.commonapp.org

Tutorials for the UC, Cal State, and private school applications can be found in each of the students Google classroom under their academy pathway.

Need help with applications!?! Application labs are every 4th and 8th period in the blue and gold Center. Students do not need to make an appointment and can come to receive help with applications.

Need help with college essays?!? We have teamed up with Educare to provide essay proofreading and editing. Make an appointment and bring your rough draft. Start early and don't procrastinate.

Make an appointment here :

Ms. Yesenia: https://calendly.com/yesenia1

Ms. Gracie: https://calendly.com/g-cerrillos

College Deadlines for Seniors: Please click HERE for a list of important college deadlines.

SCHOLARSHIPS

9th Grade Scholarships: http://bit.ly/scholar9

10th Grade Scholarships: http://bit.ly/scholar10

11th Grade Scholarships: http://bit.ly/scholar11

12th Grade Scholarships: http://bit.ly/12scholar

*FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM FOR SCHOLARSHIP AND COLLEGE INFO!

Schedule an appointment using the links below.

Wendy Quiñonez

College Counselor (Last Names A-L)

w.quinonez@birminghamcharter.com

Schedule Meeting:

calendly.com/wq1

Erika Lopez

College Counselor (Last Names M-Z)

er.lopez@birminghamcharter.com

Schedule Meeting:

calendly.com/er-lopez

Angela Zook

Career Counselor

a.zook@birminghamcharter.com

Schedule Meeting:

calendly.com/a-zook

The Psychiatric Social Workers (PSW) support the social, emotional, behavioral and mental wellness of students by providing therapeutic support to children and families, crisis intervention and response, group facilitation, and connection to community resources while upholding the general promotion of mental wellness in the Birmingham community. Through these services, PSWs ensure that students are mentally, physically and emotionally present in the classroom. PSWs are also the advisors for the H.O.P.E. Club - Healing, Optimism, Perseverance, Empowerment and collaborate to spread awareness on Mental Health throughout school-wide campaigns.

The PSWs teamed up with the Community Schools Coordinator and ASB for #RedRibbonWeek happening November 13th-17th! Red Ribbon Week is a national campaign focused on promoting a drug-free and healthy lifestyle among our students (official observance is October 23rd-31st).

Throughout the week, we have planned engaging activities and discussions to raise awareness about the risks of substance abuse and empower our students to make informed, positive choices. We encourage you to take this opportunity to discuss the importance of a drug-free life with your child and to reinforce the values of making healthy decisions. Your support in reinforcing these messages at home is invaluable, and we appreciate your partnership in promoting a safe and nurturing environment for our students. Thank you for being an essential part of our efforts to build a strong, healthy, and drug-free community.

School holiday breaks are meant as a time for connection with family, rest, and rejuvenation. However, holiday breaks can also be an emotionally challenging time with heightened stress. We’ve compiled a list of resources that can help with access to professional guidance and emotional support during this time. These resources provide immediate assistance and a confidential space for teens and families to navigate stress, feelings of loneliness, and other emotional challenges. School staff will be ready to support upon return from the holiday break.

Resources for mental health and the referral process for mental health support on campus.

STEP 1:

Student must have and maintain a 2.0 GPA (All grades of C or higher) to qualify for work permit.

STEP 2:

Download B1-1 Work Permit Application

*Click B1-1 Application link and download a copy at home or come to the Blue & Gold Center to pick one up.

STEP 3:

Fill out the B1-1 Work Permit Application and have your parent and employer sign it.

*No digital signatures/scanning permitted*

STEP 4:

Return the B1-1 Work Permit Application filled out and signed back to school. Drop-in, no appointment necessary.

• To: Mrs. Margie Curtis
• Where: Blue & Gold Center
• When: Monday - Friday
• Time: Between 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

STEP 5:

Either Mrs. Curtis or Mrs. Zook will print your work permit.

*Student must be present to sign the work permit

These are the minimum requirements that should be completed by each grade level for both graduation and college with a minimum grade of C or higher. Grades of D's and F's will be assigned summer school automatically.

This will let you know exactly what is an excusable absence.

See Below for more information!